Blog: Saturation Point ?

Population of India ………………………………………………………………… 140 Crore

Number of Voters……………………………………………………………………..100 Crore

Expected Voting %age in 2024 General Election…………………… 70 %

Therefore, Non-Voters ……………………………………………………………… 30 %

Non-Voters ( in absolute numbers ) in 2024………………………………30 Crore

Question :

Ø Why Non-Voters do not go to voting booth for voting ?

Answer :

“ Election Comission to launch campaign to check 'urban apathy' “

[ From print issue of Economic Times / 11 Dec 2022 ]

Extract :

The EC is also in the advanced stages of working out a “ Remote Voting “ option for migrant workers, 4 – 5 crore of whom are estimated to NOT have voted in 2019 Lok Sabha poll

An enabling TECHNOLOGICAL UPDATE is being developed

“ This may require some change in election rules “, said an official

SVEEP so far has been focussed on the general masses, encouraging them to exercise their franchise, putting out voting appeals by EC icons and motivating youths to UPLOAD SELFIES with inked fingers

“ But these initiatives are no longer bringing out the STUBBORN NON-VOTERS. A SATURATION POINT has been reached “, conceded an EC official

Question :

What “ Technological Update “ will motivate non-voters to vote in 2024 ?

Answer :

Launch a Mobile App , which will enable those 30 Crore non-voters ( and, of course those 70 crore voters a well ), to vote within ONE MINUTE, from the comfort of their homes

Some 10 years ago, I sent following e-mail to our Cabinet Ministers :

Ø VotesApp ……………………………………….. [ 18 Dec 2012 ]

Extract :

Here is a suggestion to IIT-Bombay , to develop a voting app , to be called VotesApp. Highlights of VotesApp :

Ø An Android app which can be downloaded from Google Play / Android Zoom / GetJar and the official web site of Election Commission of India

Ø It will be pre-loaded on 220 million Aakash tablets which Govt of India plans to distribute to students

Ø It will also be pre-loaded on those Smart phones ( to be called, “ Dharati “ ? ), which Govt of India plans to distribute free to 400 million “ poor “ Indians , before 2014 National elections

Ø All tablet / smart phone manufacturers will be encouraged to pre-load VotesApp

Ø Using this app , a voter can register at Election Commission web site, where he will enter the same data which he has submitted for his Aadhar card, including Aadhar card number (Unique Identification No)

Ø All of these details will be verified by Aadhar database

Ø Obviously , those who have not obtained their Aadhar card , will not be able to use VotesApp . They will need to visit nearest polling booth

Ø Upon correct verification , Aadhar Database will permanently link the person’s Aadhar number with the mobile number from which registration is done, and issue a Password

Ø An under aged person will not be allowed to register

Ø A person will be able to vote only from that mobile number

Ø After login on first screen, user will be asked to select one option from > Panchayat Election > Municipal Election > State Assembly Election > Lok-Sabha Election

Ø Upon selection, user will be presented with the list of candidates contesting , from which , he can select only one by ticking a checkbox. There will be also a choice , labeled “ None “

Ø A long press on a candidate’s name will display details of his declared assets as also his criminal record

Ø After ticking / selecting a candidate, voter will click on “ VOTE “ button, whereupon his vote gets registered and VotesApp gets inactivated

Ø Once a voter registers on Election Commission web site , he cannot go to a poling booth and vote physically

Ø In less than one year , Govt of India will recover the cost of 220 million Aakash tablets and 400 million” Dharati “ smart phones , through this customized / personalized / shrinking of EVMs ( Electronic Voting Machines ) to a hand-held device. And imagine the millions of man-hours saved !

Ø And the beauty is , no one can capture this booth , or conduct exit polls ! What will “ experts “ discuss on TV channels ?

Ø What next ? Election Commission “licensing “ this App to other countries ?

Vote will get recorded only when that Voter takes a Selfie - which will get matched automatically , with his Aadhar Card photo

With Regards,

Hemen Parekh

hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 12 Dec 2022